SIENNA COLLEGE POLL

State Police and New York Alert announced the disappearance of 2 Amish children from the North Country. Missing are 12 year old FANNIE MILLER, with Brown Hair, Brown Eyes, about 5 feet tall and weighing about 90 pounds, Police said that Fannie is Cross-eyed. Also missing, 7 year old Delila Miller, also with Brown Eyes & Hair, about 4 feet tall and weighing about 50 pounds, she has a round scar on forehead and is missing front teeth. Both victims last seen wearing dark blue dresses with blue aprons and black bonnets, Police said that both girls went to a roadside stand to wait on customer in a small white 4-door sedan. A Witness saw the suspect throw something into back of car then get into the back seat, the Vehicle then left scene and victims were gone. Any one with information is asked to call 1-866-NYS-AMBER or 911.
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Published reports out of Albany suggest that the FBI and state Attorney General’s Office raided the home of State Senator Tom Libous of Binghamton last Friday. Libous and his son were indicted in July in connection with a FBI investigation; Senator Libous is accused of using his influence to get his son a job with a downstate Law Firm. Records and a computer belonging to Frances Libous, the wife of Senator Libous were seized.
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Emergency Crews from North Norwich & Norwich responded this afternoon to State Highway 12 and County Road 32 for a tractor-trailer accident. Initial reports stated that the tractor-trailer was flipped onto its side, & the driver was out of the vehicle. WCDO will have further details as they become available.
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The Chenango Arts Council has a new executive director, Diane Batson-Smith; she brings major theater & film industry credentials to Norwich venue. Batson-Smith told WCDO News of her plans to make the Martin W. Kappel Theater a community hub of activity:

(Diane Batson-Smith 8-14-14)

A line up of events is already scheduled through next may, the lineup and membership applications can be found online at chenangoarts. org.
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The Upper Susquehanna Watershed Project will hold its annual conference on August 21st at 1:00 PM at Sidney High School. Students and teachers from the project will present reports on their research on the chemistry, biology,& hydrometeorology of the upper Susquehanna River basin. The project is an effort between area high schools from Cooperstown to Afton, and is directed by teachers from Sidney High School. The program is funded by ACCO & private donations. The public is invited encouraged to attend.
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NYSEG is warning customers about callers who say they represent NYSEG about billing matters. Some customers have been contacted and warned that their service would be shut off & they should purchase a “Green Dot MoneyPak Card” and contact the caller with the card information. Customers who have any questions about a call for an overdue payment are urged to contact NYSEG at 1-800-572-1111.
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The latest Siena College poll asked New Yorkers about the most important issues for the fall election. 28% said jobs, 21% said taxes, and 20% said education and 17% corruption. Only 2% of those polled said hydraulic fracturing natural gas reserves was their top issue, 1% involved guns and the state’s gun-control law.
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Governor Cuomo signed a new law that bans direct contact between people and lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars and cougars. The “Tiger Selfie” bill, is also directed at roadside zoos that charge people for photos with big cats. The governor said despite any level of training, big cats have instincts to kill. The penalty is $500 for the first offense.

Yesterday’s fire at Matteson Hall on the SUNY Oneonta campus has been ruled accidental. The investigators from the Oneonta Fire Department reported that the fire started as from a malfunction and the improper use of an electric plug strip on the 3rd. Inspectors ruled tat Matteson Hall is structurally sound, but the electrical infrastructure and 3rd floor fire alarms have been compromised. Disaster Clean-Up from Endwell, has been retained to clean the third floor, which is expected to take at least two weeks. The college will continue to offer shelter at Chase Gymnasium for students displaced by the fire & a plan for long-term housing is under development now. 177 students were affected. No injuries were reported.

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While the new state gun law passed by a wide margin in the legislature this week, area lawmakers voted against it. Assemblyman Cliff Crouch voiced his concerns over the bill on the floor of the assembly:

(Crouch 1-17-13)

Area state senators Jim Seward, John Bonacic and Tom Libous voted against the new gun law in the senate this week.

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State Police responded to a 1 car motor vehicle accident on Interstate 81 in Kirkwood, the investigation revealed the 3 Bronx residents in the vehicle possessed approximately 7 ounces of cocaine, marihuana, and various drug paraphernalia. Arrested were 21-year-old MAX OTANO for Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, he was arraigned and committed to the Broome County Jail without bail. Police also charged 21-year-old STEVEN RIVERA for Unlawful Possession of Marihuana; he was issued an appearance ticket for the Town of Kirkwood Court and released. Police also arrested 21-year-old JOSHUA CRUZ for Reckless Driving and other vehicle and traffic law violations. CRUZ was issued tickets returnable to the Town of Kirkwood Court and released.

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The state labor department announced that in December, the State’s economy added 34,300 private sector jobs, the state’s overall job gain to 123,200. the state reached an all time high private sector job count of 7,353,000. the December unemployment rate fell from 8.3% to 8.2%. the upstate counties rate dropped from 7.9% to 7.8%.

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Governor Cuomo’s approval rating continues to be high among new Yorkers, according to the latest Sienna Polls, which were conducted between January 10th and 15th. The poll found Cuomo with a 71% favorability rating, and a 60% job-performance rating, almost identical to December’s poll numbers. Those polled also supported strong bans on assault weapons and increasing penalties on illegal gun purchases, which were 2 key provisions in the states new gun laws that were passed by the legislature earlier this week & signed into law by Cuomo Wednesday in Rochester.

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State troopers in Oneonta arrested 33-year-old Stephanie Couse of Oneonta for Aggravated Harassment. The arrest originated from a complaint on State Route 23 in Davenport, Couse was issued an Appearance Ticket to appear in the Town of Davenport Court on January 22nd.

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The Binghamton Mets announced today that last years coaching staff would return. Manager Pedro Lopez returns for the 2013 season, along with batting coach Luis Natera and pitching coach Glenn Abbott. The home opener will be on April 11th against New Hampshire, and tickets details are available at binghamton.mets.milb.com.

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The Bainbridge-Guilford Central School will hold a Board of Education Meeting tonight in the Guilford Cafeteria to discuss district business. The meeting will begin at 6:00 PM with committee meetings. The business portion of the meeting will start at 7:30 PM.